Ottawa Senators: Top 3 players worth drafting with third overall pick

3. Lucas Raymond

The Ottawa Senators will most likely draft a center at some point during the first round of the 2020 draft. If they’d like to pursue one later, forward Lucas Raymond is certainly a strong option with the third overall pick. Many have him as the draft’s second-best wing, trailing only consensus number one prospect Alexis Lafrenière.

In 33 games this year in the SHL (Sweden’s top professional hockey league), Raymond had 10 points. If you include his Champions HL performance, he put up 13 points in 39 games. On paper, that doesn’t stand out, especially when you look at his peers who dominated in juniors. However, when you watch him play, several things about Raymond stand out.

First of all, his hockey sense and IQ are both top-notch. He sees the ice so well and he understands the little nuances that make great players great. Secondly, this didn’t show in his stats, but Raymond’s playmaking is impressive. This was partly because of his lack of quality linemates, but let’s also remember Raymond is a teenager who was playing against grown men.

If the Senators are looking for someone who will be able to contribute quickly, Raymond’s not the right guy to pick. He’s probably at least two or three years away from being an NHL caliber player. But Raymond’s upside is very special.